Birmingham find away win at last

Maghoma and his team-mates celebrate their first goal at the Madejski StadiumMATTHEW CHILDS/ACTION IMAGES

At last there are signs of a Birmingham City revival after they won away from home for the first time this season and scored twice in a game for the first time since August.

Steve Cotterill, the manager, has found some fighting spirit from his side. Jacques Maghoma and Sam Gallagher scored against Reading as Birmingham also made it consecutive wins for the first time to climb above Sunderland and into 23rd, a point from safety.

With both sides severely out of form and struggling, expectations were not high for a pretty contest but Reading started well only to miss a catalogue of early chances.

Modou Barrow, Sone Aluko, Yann Kermorgant and Chris Gunter were all denied by David Stockdale, the Birmingham goalkeeper, before the…